One year ago on July 19, 2007 our baby girl was born. My nursling turned one yesterday. What a wonderful first year. Happy Birthday Little One, you are much loved by us all.

As I reflect on the first year with my little girl I am so grateful for the way she has already caused me to examine my words and actions. When I think that she will one day be a wife and mother and her attitudes toward her husband and little ones will be greatly influenced by my attitude now, it causes me to stop and reflect frequently.

Marinate chicken in lemon juice. Saute chicken in olive oil. Remove and saute peanuts.Saute carrots a couple of minutes. Mix chicken stock, soy sauce, rapadura, vinegar, garlic, ginger and pepper together in a separate bowl. Add chicken and peanuts back to skillet with carrots and pour sauce over these. Add a couple of tablespoons of arrowroot mixed with 2 tablespoons of water and simmer until thickened. Add Broccoli, squash and zucchini. Mix well and simmer 5-10 minutes.

Serve over brown rice.*I omit the onions and peppers that are in the original recipe.I added the squash and zucchini and it turns out well.

This recipe serves 6-7 easily. I have a family of 4 eaters and we can have it for supper another night and freeze a couple of portions also.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Here's a little challenge that goes right along with purchasing your fruits and vegetables at the market. How many different colors does your family eat on a given day? week?

Just for clarification, I mean how many colorful, whole, unrefined foods are you preparing for your family? yourself? Grape kool-aid and a colorful pack of Skittles or M&M's do not count:-0 We need to be providing wholesome colorful foods for the bodies that God has placed in our care.

So grab a pen and paper or post a comment on here, sharing how you are doing with eating your colors!

Bo's will be the same except no blackberries.Shater aka Lou Lou's will be the same except no sweet banana pepper, or grapes and add bananaMine will be the same except no sweet banana peppersChris will have the veggies in the soup tonight and I'm not sure if he took fruit to work.

We normally do not have that many veggies during the day. The soup I made tonight has lots of veggies. It's easy to get frustrated if you think you should eat from every color group every day. Keep a list of what you eat in a given week and see if that is easier. It gives you seven days to get your color groups eaten.Holli

*We picked 1 gallon of blackberries off of the 2 bushes I planted in our yard three years ago.*We went to Chris' uncles farm and picked 3 gallons yesterday. I hope to make a little jelly and juice then freeze the rest.

See how many wonderful, fresh fruits and vegetables are available at your local market!

Contributors

My Love

Chris and I have been married for 18 years. He is such a wonderful husband but what I love most is watching him be a daddy. He is our protector, provider, priest and prophet and I am forever grateful.

Six Little Quicks

Bo...the oldest

This is our oldest. He's a thinker...asks the hard questions. He loves legos...history...mom's homemade pizza...reading... fishing and hiking. He's our responsible young man. I know God created him for such a time as this and I can't wait to see his plan unfold.

Boo...10 years

This boy has a servant's heart. When I ask for help I know he'll say "sure". He enjoys working with his hands..helping his daddy work around the house makes his day. He loves legos...gardening...shooting his BB gun and hiking.

Miss LouLou...8 years

Miss LouLou is beautiful...independent...sweet...shy. She loves taking care of the younger ones. She holds baby brother and buries her face in his hair and just breathes...she loves his smell...and I love to watch her practice being a mommy. Now with a new sister she is getting more practice than ever. Although she insists she's not getting married...she's living with mommy and daddy forever;-)

Little Bitty...6 years

Little Bitty is giggles and fire and sneaky and cute. She brings laughter and love and snuggles to our day. She's daddy's best buddy and cries when mommy leaves the room...but as soon as she calms down she finds something to get her hands into;-)

Nayna...4years

Nayna is huggable...loveable...and rather loud too. She makes us laugh. She and rooster are best buddies and can make each other scream too. She is already sounding out words and writing them and showing interest in learning to read. No one else has shown an interest at such a young age.

Rooster...3 years

Sweet baby boy...I love to bury my nose in his hair and just breathe...I love to kiss those cheeks dripping with sugar...I love to get a smile from him first thing in the morning...I love the way he reminds me of a fresh start...He is growing in independence and he loves to talk!

"Thank you for letting Jesus in our home." -Bo 3 years

"He settles the barren womanin her homeas the happy mother of children."Praise the Lord!"Psalms 113:9

"Let me repeat, that I venture to suggest, not what is practicable in any household, but what seems to me absolutely best for the children; and that, in the faith that mothers work wonders once they are convinced that wonders are demanded of them."-Charlotte Mason